Elder Lofton Q Bean : Feliz Natal!!!

Heyy fam!!!

Estou muito animado por Natal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yeahhhhhh. This past week was great. Last Wednesday we had a Mission Christmas Activity for the whole mission. It was a blast. We got there at 8 in the morning (had to take a 45 minute bus ride, then an hour ride on the metro). It was such a blast. It started off spiritually, then we left to go eat lunch. When we came back we watched the movie Frozen. lol. All 200 of us missionaries. Then we had a Talent show, then we had an awesome dinner. We finished off the night watching Ephraim's Rescue, a very powerful spiritual movie. We ended up getting home at 12:30. It was awesome getting together with everyone in the mission and seeing people that I hadn’t seen for several months.

Our zone here is awesome!! Today we did a zone Christmas activity. Had a blast. Me and Elder Preator made hot dogs (Brasilian style) and it turned out really good. We did a "Secret Santa" and bought presents for each other in the zone. Turned out really good. We made tshirts as a zone with "Ele é o Presente" on the front (He is the gift) and then a Christmas tree with our names in it on the back. Me and Elder Preator also printed a Christmas card of us two on it to give to everyone. We had a ping pong tournament and just had a blast enjoying the Christmas season the best we can. It was a Christmas activity I’ll always remember for sure.

Our zone is really good, we have some awesome people. We have 3 new guys who just got on the mission three weeks ago, two Americans and one Mexican. Elder Nordfelt and Seely are awesome and Elder Castillo (the Mexican) is such a stud and has stayed with us in Gama a few times already. It’s hard being away from home for Christmas but it’s so crazy how differently I look at things this year, than I did last year. Last year, I thought more about myself. This year, I think more of the new missionaries who will spend their first Christmas away from home and remembering the Real present of Christmas, our Savior. This Christmas we got some awesome things planned. We will wake up and make a Christmas breakfast using that Red velvet pancake mix mom sent me, some eggs, and Leite with canela (hot milk with cinnamon and sugar. so good.). We will then watch a church Christmas video and do a little study in the scriptures about Christ’s birth. Then the best part, SKYPEEEEE> yeahhhhhh. soooo stoked. I think it will be in like the afternoon.

Eduardo almost was baptized this weekend but he didn’t pass his interview and Matheus is traveling. But he sent us a message that when gets back home he wants to mark his baptism!!!

I’m doing great, missin yall a ton but having a blast out here and enjoying the time I have left. I love yall so much!!!! Have a merry Christmas.

Feliz Natal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tenha um ótimo Natal e Ano-Novo!!

Love,

Elder Bean

Everyone,

Thanks for all the emails and Christmas wishes. Really means a ton to me!! If I wasn't able to reply, just know that I did read it and it meant a lot to me!! I miss and love yall so much!! Feliz Natal!!!!